Category: 1st XV Reports 17/18
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North One East
Percy Park RFC 10- Cleckheaton 14
Better late than never as last minute Park gain valuable point.
 
 
 
As game time approached dark and ragged clouds threatened rain…come kick off time those dull skies produced a persistent light rain that turned the Preston Avenue pitch into a strength sapping quagmire that would not and could not produce any running rugby. So it was down to the forwards and defensive systems to slug it out; the ‘more likely winner’ being the team that produced the fewer handling errors. With Park needing to ‘get something from this game’ and preferring a harder pitch the conditions were not welcomed, yet they stuck at their task against a very capable Cleckheaton side and managed to fashion that all important point in almost the last minute of the game. It wasn’t pretty and at the end of the contest both teams were so plastered in mud you really couldn’t tell ‘who was who’ but that point was earned and you never know with three games to go how valuable it might prove to be.
Park started the better of the two sides with Sean Williamson ‘leading the charge’ deep into the Cleckheaton half. And it was here that Park remained for the best part of 20 minutes without being able to generate a score. The hits and the tackles were hard and no quarter given. When ‘Cleck’ were handed the ball they cleared deep into the Park half forcing ‘the black and whites’ to come back at them.
Having absorbed the storm Cleckheaton started to play some great tight rugby that demonstrated why they were challenging in the top half of the league. Picking some ‘hard straight lines’ they asked a lot of the Park defence and when the ball was held in the ruck area a passage of ‘pick and goes’ had Park on the back foot. The Cleckheaton scrum half was lively, throwing short sharp passes moving his team forward. You could sense that a score was coming and so it proved to be when Park ran out of defensive numbers to allow a ‘Cleck’ player to skip through and score. With the try converted Park were behind.
 

Category: 1st XV Reports 17/18
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NORTH 1 EAST

PERCY PARK 8 – 0 BRIDLINGTON

Marc Cook try

This vital win for Park takes them off the bottom of North 1 East but still in the relegation zone as Dinnington who are one place above them, although on the same points have a better playing record with 7 wins to Park’s 6 wins and 1 draw.

Bridlington travelled from East Yorkshire in very wet conditions and the pitch on their arrival was heavy but playable and thankfully the rain subsided during the game to the relief of the small but select band of Easter Saturday supporters.

After a minute’s silence to the memory of Ian Blair who died suddenly last week aged 61, Brid kicked off, but that was their only foray into the visitor’s half for a full 30 minutes as Park had all the play and territory but couldn’t capitalise. The score board remained blank until Percy Park broke the deadlock with a rare Marc Cook try. Park had a line out in the Bridlington 22 and although the catch and drive was halted short of the try line, Park’s forward regrouped and drove over the line with prop Cooky getting the all important touch down.

Michael Grove was unlucky with the conversion so the score remained 5 – 0. Brid sparked into action but stern defence by the men in black and white kept them at bay and the half ended 5 – 0.

Category: 1st XV Reports 17/18
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North One East
Driffield RFC 31- Percy Park RUFC 22
 
Superb Sutherland gives Percy Park hope
 
 
 
A brace of tries from ‘Man of the Match’ Kieran Sutherland ignited Percy Park’s relegation fight after almost a four week layoff due to some very inclement weather. Percy Park travelled to league front runners Driffield RFC, nestled in the low lying fertile plains of East Yorkshire, with a squad of players reduced in numbers by ‘non-availability’. Although seeming to be on the back foot before the wheels had left the Preston Avenue ground the mood in the camp was steadfast in the belief that a performance would be given and ‘no inch’ would be surrendered without a ‘fight’. And what a performance the team did give. In a feisty game that will live long in the memory as ‘Black Eye Saturday’ Percy Park secured a much need bonus point in the last minute of the game when Kieran Sutherland intercepted a defence stretching pass to run the whole length of the pitch, chased by the majority of the Driffield side, to score that vital fourth try. A try that had the travelling alikados screaming as if they were on a ‘Spanish City’ waltzer!!! . And much to the amazement of all, Kieran’s dad actually managed a smile.
With the weather fair and the pitch firm Percy Park were out of the traps ‘with fire’ and registered the first score on the two minute mark. Centre Phil Morse collected a ball in the Park ‘22’ and he set off before being tackled just outside the halfway line. A supporting Sean Williamson collected the offload to power up the field before a sweeping pass to the left saw Kieran Sutherland skip past two defenders with a delightful shimmy to score under the posts. With the try converted Park were good by seven. The game then pulsated from end to end with a few lively individual ‘contests’ across the pitch with Park showing that they hadn’t arrived at the Driffield Showground and lie down. A fact emphasised when stand in centre Michael Langlands and his opposite number had a meeting. Park had put down a ‘statement of intent’.
 

Category: 1st XV Reports 17/18
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North One East
 
Percy Park 16-Alnwick RFC 27
 
Clinical Burns hat trick denies Park a share of the spoils
 
 
 
Kieron Sutherland breaks through the Alnwick defence
 
With the ‘Beast from the East’ baring down on the Preston Avenue Ground, Percy Park took on local rivals Alnwick in a battle between the two Percy Lions. With Park needing vital points in their bid for North One East survival six enforced changes to the side put the ‘black and whites’ on the back foot before a ball was kicked.  With a vociferous Alnwick following, the Greensfield side were not shy in believing that they could achieve a five point haul to aid their promotion bid to the North Premier League. However what they met was a very young spirited Percy Park team who very nearly, and if it wasn’t for a try saving tackle on Park centre Phil Morse during the ‘last play of the game’, pricked that Alnwick confidence balloon.
From the kick off Alnwick played the game deep in the Park half and two poor attempts to clear their lines kept Park ‘under the cosh’. With Alnwick intent set a forward pass denied them an early score. With Park absorbing the early pressure confidence grew that they could match the ‘blue and gold side’ and as a consequence Park crept into Alnwick terrority, playing some fine ‘keep ball rugby’ that saw Alnwick transgressing at the breakdown and conceding a number of penalties. And it was from one such penalty that fly half Michael Grove was able to punish the Alnwick side and open the scoring with a fine kick from distance that sailed through the centre of the posts.
The score gave Percy Park real confidence and they started to open up and test the Alnwick defence with some quick flowing rugby. And it was in this area of the game that the supporter could see why Alnwick were pressing at the top of the league. With a back row marshalled by James Hamilton they were quick over the ball slowing down the Park attack and when the ball did go out they were quick to the break down. And it was from one such Park move that saw Park full back Kieron Sutherland scythe through the Alnwick defence to be caught from the cover that came across and behind the Alnwick line. With the tackle made Hamilton was able to rip the ball from the Park hand and set up a counter attack going from right to left that saw Alnwick wing Jonny Burn for the first try of the game.
 

Category: 1st XV Reports 17/18
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North One East

Percy Park RFC 12 v Penrith RUFC 35

Penrith made to work hard for their bonus point win

Williamson surge

(Breaking the Penrith Defence)

Following the loss against fellow strugglers Northern the Percy Park faithful were hopeful that their team could overturn the form book and cause an upset against league pace setters Penrith. Percy Park had nothing to lose as 'on paper' this game should have returned an easy win for the Cumbrian side. With 'must win' pressure removed hope abounded that this could be the game where a league leading side, comfortable in their position, might 'fail to turn up' and end up on the wrong side of the result. And as the game kicked off that hope accelerated as Percy Park got off to a great start advancing deep into the Penrith half and recording the first score of the game.

With only 5 minutes played player-coach Lome Faatau came through on a loose ball and with pace scythed through the Penrith defence. With 'no one at home' the ball was kicked ahead and a foot race ensued. With Faatau first to the ball he made a sublime offload from the floor to the supporting Jamie Wrigley who was able to score underneath the posts. With the conversion taken. Park were ahead and in buoyant mood playing the game in the Penrith half.

  1. Northern edge basement battle
  2. Morpeth take advantage of yellow card
  3. Park overcome West
  4. Percy Park's Woes Continue